ML18303A207

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Response to Request for Review of Low Enriched Uranium Conversion Preliminary Safety Analysis Report for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor

ML18303A207
Person / Time
Site:	MIT Nuclear Research Reactor
Issue date:	10/31/2018
From:	Patrick Boyle Research and Test Reactors Licensing Projects Branch
To:	Hu L, Queirolo A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Boyle P, NRR/DLP, 415-3936
References
EPID L-2017-LLA-0445
Download: ML18303A207 (4)

Text

October 31, 2018 Dr. Lin-wen Hu, Director of Research and Services Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Research Reactor 138 Albany Street, MS NW12-116A Cambridge, MA 02139 Mr. Alberto Queirolo, Director of Reactor Operations Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Research Reactor 138 Albany Street, MS NW12-116A Cambridge, MA 02139

SUBJECT:

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF LOW-ENRICHED URANIUM CONVERSION PRELIMINARY SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH REACTOR (EPID NO. L-2017-LLA-0445)

Dear Dr. Hu and Mr. Queirolo:

By letter dated October 24, 2018 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML18302A128), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) staff submitted a revised preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR) for the conversion of the MIT reactor from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff for review and comment. This letter provides the results of the NRC staffs initial review, which was performed to determine if there is sufficient technical information in scope and depth to allow the NRC staff to begin its detailed review. As noted in the letter from the MIT staff, the LEU fuel has not been approved for use, and MIT is not prepared to convert from HEU to LEU fuel at this time. As such, no licensing action is being requested by MIT at this time.

The NRC staff has reviewed your PSAR and concluded that it does provide technical information in sufficient detail and will allow the NRC staff to perform a review following the guidance of NUREG-1537, Guidelines for Preparing and Reviewing Applications for the Licensing of Non Power Reactors, Parts 1 and 2, Chapter 18, Highly Enriched to Low-Enriched Uranium Conversions.

L. Hu and A. Queirolo If you have any questions please contact me at 301-415-3936 or by electronic mail at Patrick.Boyle@nrc.gov.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Patrick G. Boyle, Project Manager Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch Division of Licensing Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-20 License No. R-37 cc: See next page

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Docket No. 50-20 cc:

City Manager City Hall Cambridge, MA 02139 Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108 Mr. Jack Priest, Director Radiation Control Program Department of Public Health 529 Main Street Schrafft Center, Suite 1M2A Charlestown, MA 02129 Mr. John Giarrusso, Chief Planning and Preparedness Division Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency 400 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter P.O. Box 118300 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-8300 Ms. Sarah M. Don, Reactor Superintendent Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Research Reactor 138 Albany Street, MS NW12-116B Cambridge, MA 02139

ML18303A207 *concurred via e-mail NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DLP/PRLB/PM NRR/DLP/PRLB/LA* NRR/DLP/PRLB/BC NRR/DLP/PRLB/PM NAME PBoyle NParker AAdams (WKennedy for) PBoyle DATE 10/30/2018 10/30/2018 10/31/2018 10/31/2018